Coming into college, most freshmen stress over leaving their home, friends and family. After a month, when they finally grow accustomed to their college life, they no longer feel the anticipation or fear of college.
As fall break approaches, they begin to think about what their old friends will think of them once they reunite at a group hangout or at their high school’s homecoming football game. They begin to think of how they will perceive their old friends. One thing leads to another and they will begin to think if any of their friends have gained the alleged freshmen fifteen, or even worse if they had gained it themselves. If this thought scares you, then here are some helpful tips on how to avoid the accursed freshmen fifteen.
Being away from home for the first time is going to test your willpower. Thankfully, Monmouth University offers many healthy options in its cafeterias. Everything must be eaten in moderation. Eating a handful of potato chips can be bad if not paired with another healthy main course meal.
According to LiveStrong.com, eat at certain hours everyday and try to eat five smaller meals rather than three big meals per day. Both of these m ethods will help your metabolism. Most importantly, do not be drawn into making late night snacks an every night ritual. If you do like to snack at night, choose something healthy to eat such as fruit or carrots instead of what the vending machines offer.
Another helpful tip on how to avoid the freshmen fifteen would be to exercise. There are various ways you can carry out this advice, the most practical solution would be to take advantage of the Multipurpose Activity Center (MAC) which is located behind the Student Center. The MAC has a pool, basketball courts, a well-furnished gym, and an indoor track on the upper level.
Sophomore Kyle O’Grady says that utilizing the MAC helped her avoid the weight gain from freshman year. “The MAC is never too crowded so there is always something to do and it’s cleanliness is a big draw.”
Twenty minutes a day would help you avoid the freshmen fifteen. If the gym is not for you, an alternative would be to run outside. With the beach right up the street, it would be practical to get your exercise out of the way by running to the shoreline and then enjoying a nice beach day. A different option would be to join a team or a club team. You can pursue this option by attending the Involvement Fair Wednesday at 2:30 in front of the Student Center to learn more about the different clubs MU has to offer. Even walking around West Long Branch and to all of your classes is some form of exercise. The main thing is you must stay active.
A key recommendation in avoiding the freshmen fifteen would be to lay off the alcoholic beverages. Livestrong. com states that having one shot of Smirnoff’s popular Triple Distilled Vodka is equivalent to 69 empty calories, therefore having five shots is the same as having a bowl of spaghetti. Furthermore, having three Budweiser 12 oz beers would also be equivalent to having a bowl of spaghetti. While most students are eager to go out and party, they do not realize that they are essentially having enough calories to classify as a second dinner whenever they drink.
It may sound crazy, but a wise idea would be to skip a night of partying and gain some sleep. Believe it or not, lack of sleep is a key role in weight gain.
NBC Today states that our bodies “… run on a 24-hour cycle. When our bodies aren’t in a regular sleep pattern, hormones that regulate whether we feel full or hungry get out of whack…” Thus your body may deceive you into thinking you are hungry when you are not.
Perhaps the most important tip on how to avoid the freshmen fifteen would be to set a goal for yourself come fall break and see it out to completion. Setting a goal is a great motivation to achieve whatever you desire. Utilizing these tips will help any freshmen successfully avoid the dreaded freshmen fifteen.
